Converter for electric power

An electric power converter, comprising multiple sub-modules connected with each other in series,

• wherein each of the multiple sub-modules includes an energy storage unit and one or more power semiconductor circuits connected to the energy storage unit in parallel,
• wherein each of the one or more power semiconductor circuits includes multiple power semiconductor switches and free-wheel diodes,
• wherein each of the sub-modules further includes a bypass switch unit that is connected to one of the one or more power semiconductor circuits between two output terminals,
• wherein the electric power converter is configured to bypass a current through the bypass switch unit, and
• wherein:
• the bypass switch unit includes a first switch element connected in parallel to the one of the one or more power semiconductor circuits and disposed between the two output terminals, a third switch element connected to the first switch element in anti-parallel, and a second switch element connected to the third switch element in parallel;
• a cathode side of the first switch element is connected to an emitter side of one of the multiple power semiconductor switches (123) of the one of the one or more power semiconductor circuits (120);
• and
• the current flows through the third switch element and the first switch element when the sub-module fails, and the current is bypassed through the second switch element after a switch operation of the second switch element.